Portable edam-injection spottt



Nov. 29, 192 7. 1,650,647

T. S. PARK PORTABLE FOAM INJECTION SPO U T Filed Dec. '7. 1926 L L W is f 14 [I Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES TRACY S. PARK, 0F HOUSTON, TEXAS.

PORTABLE FOAM-INJECTION SPOITT.

Application filed December 7, 1926. Serial No. 153,139.

My invention relates to an apparatus including a spout for the purpose of injecting lire extinguishing compounds upon the surface of burning liquids, such as oil.

In the handling of crude petroleum, and also of refined products of petroleum, it is common to store the hydro-carbon liquids in tanks or vats. The liquid thus stored is sometimes ignited through the carelessness of workmen or from lightning, and in such case, the problem of extinguishing the fire thus started in the oil becomes a very serious one. Compounds have been invented and are now in common use which may be injected into the burning oil and which have the capacity of floating on the oil and smothering the flame by preventing the access ofoxygen to the burning oil. My device is particularly adapted for handling lire extinguishing or smothering compounds of this nature and to provide for discharging the mixture upon the surface of the tank of oil in such manner as to most extinguish the flames.

It is an object of the invention to construct a foam discharging device which will be easily portable and adapted for attachment to the side of the tank containing the burning oil and be immediately ready for use. It is desired that this construction be capable of use upon the tank at any point desired, and that it be capable of attachment to or removal from the tank with little difliculty.

Referring to the drawing herewith, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a discharge spout constructed in accordance with my invention, showing it as in position on a tank, said tank being shown in broken section. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of said spout.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a tubular member 1 which may, if preferred, be of ordinary pipe. At the lower end of this pipe I attach an inlet fitting 2, which preferably is made of inverted V-shape having two inlet openings 3 thereon. Said openings are threaded for attachment thereto of a hose of ordinary construction and a locking collar 4: on the opening is provided for forming a fluid tight connection with the hose. Two inlets 3 are provided but if only one is used, a plug, indicated at 5, can be used to close the other opening and prevent the escape of liquid through that inlet.

The upper end of the pipe is recurved to form hooked end 6 and this, which is the discharge end, is preferably flattened for the purpose of spreading the fire-extinguishing llquid', the mouth of the spout being approximately rectangular, as shown in Fig. 2. To better reinforce the upper hooked end of the spout, I use supporting brace of angle iron or similar material 7, placed between the upright body of the pipe and the hooked discharge end 6. from Fig. 1.

. The spout is supported in use by means or two supporting legs 8, said legs being of metal, the'lower ends being somewhat sharpened to better engage with the ground upon which the device is supported. The legs converge upwardly and may be attached to the lower end of the pipe in any preferred manner. I may secure the same to the pipe by means of rivets or the legs may be welded directly to the pipe, it being contemplated that the attachment will be rigid, acting to firmly support the pipe. About midway of the legs or at a height from the ground where it may be easily engaged, I place a handle bar 9. This bar is normally horizontal and is attached to each of the legs at 10 by welding or otherwise firmly bracing the legs and, the ends projecting at each side of the legs to form handles for lifting the structure.

To further support the device when it is being placed in position and to assist in lifting the pipe to secure it over the upper edge of the tank, I employ two poles 11, one ateach side of the spout. These handles are of light material, such as wood, and are attached to a collar 12 clamping to the pipe 1 at a point closely adjacent the upper curved spout 6. The collar 12 may be made in two parts, clamped together at their ends by bolts 13, said bolts acting also as a pivot to which may be secured a hinging member 14 at the upper end of the poles 11. As will be noted this attachment allows the poles to be swung outwardly away from the upright pipe 1 so that the operators may most easily handle the structure when itis being raised into position to engage over the upper end of the tank.

In the use of this device, it is contemplated that a number of these discharge spouts will be on hand for use whenever desired and whenever. a tank of oil catches fire. They may be stored in any convenient place and when necessary to use them, they will be carried to a point adjacent the lower end This will be understood of the tank, the lower legs '8 engaging the ground adjacent the base of thetank. The upper end of the spout Will then be swung up along the side of the tank and the poles 11 will be used to lift the device sufliciently to engage the spout 6 over the upper edge or rim of the tank, with the brace 7 resting upon the tank rim. The hose :eonducting thefire extinguishingsolution will then. be attached at the inlets 3 and may be at once used to discharge the liquid upwardly through the pipe 1 and through the outlet opening 6. The shape of the outlet opening is such as to spread the foam solution so as to cover as large a territory as possible It is found that the currents of air about the upper surface of a burning tank of oil causes the air to rush inwardly at the sides and upwardly at the center so that lire extinguishing solution discharged over the edge of the tank will be carried inwardly sons to cover the entire surface of the burning liquid and will thus most elliciently extinguish the flames.

The advantage of the device will be in the fact that it is easily portable and adapted to be firmly supported in position during use and when thusv secured in position, can be used most effectively to discharge the foam .olution upon the burning oil and extinguish it. Ma'nit'estly, any number of these discharge spouts may be used on a tank of burning fOll, and if necessary they may be attached to the tank at different points and used to discharge the foam solution all about theside of the tank.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimwas newwand desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described ineluding a pipe, a discharge end on said pipe curved .to hook over the edge of a supportingv structure, said discharge end being fiattened and approximately rectangular in shape, a lower inlet end to said pipe, means on said inlet end to connect with liquid conducting hose, means to support said pipe in spaced relation above the ground, and poles secured to said pipe adjacent the upper end for'the purpose of raising said pipe.

2. A device of the character described including a pipe, the upper end of which is curved downwardly, a brace between said curved end and the body of said pipe to engage the edge or a tank, supporting legs at the lower end of said pipe, and means on said pipe todetachably engage and connect with fluid conducting hose.

A device 01 the character described including a pipe, the upper end of which is curved downwardly, a brace between said curved end and the body of said pipe to engage the edge of a tank,supportinglegs at the lower end 01"? said pipe, means connecting said legs to act as -a brace therefor and also as a means to handle said pipe, and means on said pipe to engage and connect with fluid conducting hose.

4. A device of the character described including a pipe, the upper end of which is to said pipe adjacent the upper end to assist in raising said pipe.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 26th day of November A. D.

TRACY S. PARK. 

